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A 19-minute audio meditation for Advent.

The opening image of Caryll Houselander’s book The Reed of God, describes Mary’s “virginal quality” as emptiness. Not a formless or useless emptiness, but a shaped emptiness, prepared to hold something specific. She relates this emptiness to the hollow of the reed, which is prepared to “receive the pipers breath, to utter the song that is in his heart”, or the space within a cup shaped to hold water or wine, or the hollow of a nest, prepared to shelter little birds.

The invitation here is to reflect on ourselves. Do we have desire to be available for the Christ to be brought forth in our own lives? What shape might that availability, that emptiness take in us?

This meditation will guide you through some gentle movements and interior reflection on this, and other questions.

May we say with Mary “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

All blessings this Advent and always.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

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All music by Pete Hatch.